Stake lock



F. L. RUZICKA- STAKE LocK. APPLICATIQN FILED JUNE 4, I921.

I VEA/ 70/? F P/JA/KZ 302/00 7,

Patented May 23, 1922.

till? STAKE LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 353,

Application filed June 4, 1921. Serial No. 474,935.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. R-UZIOKA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 7th Street and Cass Avenue, in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stake Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention 1s to make a stake pocket and stake with a lock for securing the stake in the stake pocket. It is highly advantageous to be able to locl: the stake in the stake pocket so as to prevent loss through disengagement of the stake. The lock must be simple in construct on, lend itself readily to multiple construction, must be positive in its action, must securely hold the stake in the stake pocket 111 an upright position, and prevent the stake from rocking in the stake pocket. The lock must be readily accessible, easily operated and reasonably concealed so as to remove the temptation of an unauthorized person from removing the stake from its pocket. The lock must be durable, simply made and permit of simple repair and replacement of parts. The lock must be made so as not to appreciably increase the weight orbullr of the stake or pocket, must be made of few parts and so positioned in the stake that the lock will not be mutilated with an abuse of the stake. \Vith this and other objects in view, my invention has relation to certain novel features of construction and arrange ments of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my stake pocket and stake with the lock showing the stake in erect position in its pocket.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my stake and stake pocket together with the lock, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my stake, stake pocket, lock, and concealing plate.

Numeral 5 designates the section of the side rail of a wagon frame, numeral 6 designates a stake pocket secured to the rail 5 by means of the bolts 7. Numeral 8 designates a portion of a stake which fits into the pocket 6 in the conventional manner. In the stake pocket 6, on its external front surface is formed a rectangular notch 9 Numeral l0 designates a spring element which is secured to the stake 8 by means of the nut and bolt 11. In the stake 8 is formed a longitudinal depression 12 into which the spring element 10 fits so that its lower free end permits of a movement in and out of the longitudinal depression 12. The lower end of the spring element 10 is bent under the bottom of the stake 8 and counter-sunk so as to form a flush surface with the bottom of the stake 8; On the spring element 10 near its lower and free end is formed a triangular prismatic projection 10, having a base, the width of which is equal to the width of notch 9 and the length of which is equal to the length of the notch 9. It will be seen that by depres sing the spring element 10 manually by holding it at. the portion extending below the stake pocket (3 that the triangular prismatic projection 10 may be moved in and out of engagement with the notch 9. When the engagement is established the stake 8 is locked in the stake pocket 6. When the en gageinent is broken by compressing the spring element 10, the stake may be easily disengaged from its stake pocket in the conventional manner. It is highly advantageous to have the fit between the triangular prismatic projection 10 and the notch 9 exact so that there can be no lateral movement between them because a precluding of this lateral movement precludes the lateral movement of the stake 8 in the pocket 6. If this lateral movement is not prevented, the stake S will be subject to wear and disintegration at the portion of it that comes in contact with the stake pocket 6.

Numeral 13 designates a portion of aconcealing plate which is secured over the external face of the pocket 6 thereby obscuring the triangular prismatic projection 10 and the notch 9. This concealing plate usually runs around the entire wagon rail 5 and performs a similar function at each stake pocket.

lVh-at I claim and mean ters Patent is:

1. In combination with a stake pocket having a notch, astake having a projection, the projection on said stake and the notch in said stake pocket being so positioned on their respective elements as to permit of selective engagement between said projection and said notch, and means of concealing the notch of said stake pocket, and the projection on said stake.

2. In combination with a stake pocket to secure by Let and the selective engagement of the projection on said spring element with the notch in said stake pocket, the free end of said spring element being bent flush with the bottom of said stake, a plate secured over the external surface of said stake pocket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK L. RUZICKA; 

